28 Feb Human Rights Watch report 2021

Human Rights Watch (“HRW”) stated  in its latest report published in January 2012 that human and minority rights, the rule of law and media freedom remain endangered in several Southeast and Central European countries in 2020, especially in the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The report looks at over 60 countries, among them Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Kosovo.

In Bosnia, HRW noted, serious human rights concerns remained in 2020 “over ethnic divisions, discrimination, and the rights of minorities and asylum seekers”. On migrants, an ongoing problem in the country, HWR noted around 3,500 refugees and migrants living in the northwestern Una-Sana Canton outside official centres, many sleeping rough. “A growing concern is the number of unaccompanied or separated children among them, left without access to adequate accommodation and child protection services,” the report added.

In Kosovo, the report said discrimination was still a problem for minority communities like the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities. “A comprehensive survey of Roma, Ashkali, and Balkan Egyptians in Kosovo, published by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in January, concluded that the majority of members of these communities face high unemployment, poor housing, and experience discrimination, particularly women,” the report recalled.

Domestic violence remained a problem in Kosovo with an inadequate police response, few prosecutions, and continued failure by judges to issue restraining orders against abusive partners.

There was limited improvement in protections of human rights in Serbia in 2020. Efforts to prosecute war crimes continued to focus on low level perpetrators. People with disabilities continued to be placed and reside long term in institutions. Attacks and threats against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people continued.

In all those countries, pressure on media has continued. Local organisations continued to report numerous attacks on journalist in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo.

The report also noted cases of journalists in Serbia being beaten either by police or citizens during July 2020 protest, after they had identified themselves as journalists.

Here you can read the full report: 

https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/media_2021/01/2021_hrw_world_report.pdf

References from the official website of the Balkan Insight and the Human Rights Watch